IDChapter34
Jack returned to Isana with two dishes of a very cold concoction. He knew that Jon had suggested this because taste and smell are powerful triggers for bringing back memories, and he hoped it would work.
"Remember this? I made it for you right after I rescued you from the slave traders, remember, your mouth was so sore, and I thought this would soothe it. You loved it, and couldn't get enough."
Memories of that encounter raged a war in Isana's mind with the memories that the Shadow Mentalist had planted at Koschei's request. She hesitantly took the bowl and spoon, and sampled the dessert. It was like noting she had ever tasted before except when... Jack had made it before for her ... she took another spoonful and savored it.
"Um... thish ish realwee good." She began to relax as she held he mixture in her mouth and enjoyed the sensations of the cold temperature combined with the coolness of the mint and the warmth of the carrocinn, a plant whose taste, according to Jack, approximated a mix of chocolate and cinnamon. No one who could make something this heavenly could possibly be all that bad. Slowly other memories of Jack seeped into her consciousness. His caresses, the loving way he said her name... In stark contrast were her memories of Koschei during their stay at the Shadow Proclamation. One man gave her everything and asked nothing in return, the other demanded everything and gave nothing in return.
Captain Kor'Lo wanted to take the prisoner and the witness straight to the Krillitane Homeworld. Jack and Jon disagreed. They wanted to get Isana back to her people as soon as possible. She was doing better, but she still needed her friends around her to help her get her bearings properly before going to testify against Koschei. Kor'Lo relented. He was curious to see this settlement, anyway. He was sure the Esteemed Father would want details.
Jon went to Navigation and personally guided the ship into the canyon, landing it right behind Voyager, but in the open. He touched Rose's mind with his own, and told her to tell everyone not to worry. They disembarked, one guard staying behind to keep an eye on Koschei, the rest of the crew went to help Kor'Lo assess the settlement.
As Jon, Jack, Isana, Kor'Lo, and the crew approached the caves, Rose came running out to greet them. The rest hung back eyeing the Krillitanes suspiciously, Alia determinedly holding onto Arianna, who otherwise would have been with her Mum. Jon and Rose embraced quickly, then Jon introduced her to Kor'Lo.
"Rose, this is Captain Kor'Lo of the Krillitane Empire, he's been sent here by the Esteemed Father to keep us safe. Captain, this is my wife, Rose Tyler."
The Captain gave Rose a slight bow. "Lady Rose, it is good to see you well."
"Thank you."
Kor'Lo introduced Son'Mar and the rest of his crew to Rose, then they all marched up to the caves to inspect their living situation. Rose and Jack took Isana over to the refugees to assure them that everything was alright and that they were safe, and to help Isana get to know her friends again.
Monna and Dorvack were the first to run forward, embracing Isana and weeping tears of joy at seeing her again. Carra, Alia, and Arianna were right behind them, and Willem and the rest hung back a ways, watching Isana sort things out with the small group already surrounding her. It was a little overwhelming for Isana, who stuck close to Jack and marveled a bit at how much these people, whom she did remember but couldn't yet attach feelings to, were so clearly overjoyed to see her. It drove home to her just how much recovery she still had ahead of her, and just how thoroughly Koschei had disrupted her memories.
Kor'Lo surveyed the cave setup and started prioritizing things. "First we need to set up a proper latrine for everyone," he decided, "then bathing facilities, and I'll also have Son'Mar set up a security system around the perimeter so that you'll be warned if anyone approaches. Once we've done that, we can look at a power source and proper cooking and cleaning facilities. It should only take a day or two to get that all started, then I'll leave some men behind to help get things finished and keep these people safe, and we'll take the prisoner and Lady Isana back to the Krillitane Homeworld for the trial. Once that's done, I know the Esteemed Father has an interest in what you're doing here, he may have other suggestions to help you."
"Sounds good," Jon agreed. Although he and Jack both had serious misgivings about allying themselves with Krillitanes, there was no denying that the assistance they were providing was a huge help. Creating a Time Lord society out of a rag-tag bunch of Gallis would be hard enough, but now at least survival wouldn't be such an issue. Also, Koschei had very conveniently convinced the Shadows that Jack was dead, so he at least would no longer be looked for, but he had no doubt also let them know that Rose was very much alive. Worse, Isana knew, and therefore the Shadow Mentalist knew, that the Gallis had a latent ability to regenerate, and that he intended to help them discover and develop it. They were going to need protection, and right now the Esteemed father was the best person to provide it. He was going to have to tell the Esteemed father everything. Jon wondered how long it would be before the Esteemed Father decided that regeneration was an ability to cultivate in his own race. Probably not long at all. Still, the Krillitanes in this universe seemed a bit less war-like than their counterparts he had dealt with previously, perhaps things would work out for the best. At least no one knew about the TARDIS growing back in the caves.
The Krills and the Gallis paired off and started working on the various projects. There were plenty of supplies and building materials on the Krillitane ship they had been gifted with, so everyone was very busy in short order, unloading, organizing, digging, and building. Jack and Isana took charge of the children, giving them interesting things to do to help, but also keeping them out from underfoot. Jon and Rose took the opportunity to check on the TARDIS.
As they crept out of the small crevice leading to the coral cavern, Jon was amazed at how much the coral had grown. It was now the size of a small house. Jon let out a long, low whistle and stood transfixed. "Amazing. I've never had the chance to watch a TARDIS grow through all the stages, this is impressive." Rose slipped her arm around him and he pulled her close.
"How big will it get before it starts becoming transdimensional?"
"I don't know for sure. I do know that first it has to develop its plasmic shell, then it can start on its dimensional stabilizer. Once that is complete, it will start building its transdimensional system. We'll know when that happens."
"How will we know?" Rose asked as she gently stroked his chest.
Jon smiled at her indulgently. "She'll shrink herself down of course, Silly. That will be her signal to me that she's ready for me to start installing a navigation interface."
"It's a she?"
"Yep-p. She's her mother's daughter. Basically a clone of my old ship."
"So once she has her plasmic shell, and her dimensional stabilizer, how are we gonna shatterfry it and modify the foldback harmonic?"
Jon frowned. "Haven't figured that out yet, I'll probably have to piece together a harmonic manipulator – might have to cannabalize Jack's vortex manipulator to do it. Too bad we don't still have that one he wired into his ship, that would've been handy."
Rose was pulling him closer and he dipped down for a kiss. Coming back up for air, he started, "By the way, this might not be precisely the right time to tell you this, but..."
"Oh shut it!" She interrupted him and pulled his head back down for another kiss. "Lord, I wish we had a proper bed!" Rose sighed. They heard a whoosh behind them and both glanced out of the corner of their eyes, then stopped what they were doing, turned, and stared outright.
The coral had opened, and inside was a reasonable facsimile of a bed.
"Welll... I guess her brain and synapses are working correctly!" Jon exclaimed, delighted. He walked over to the coral and stroked it, saying, "But not now, not yet, girl, we have plenty of time for that, just keep growing and working on yourself." The doorway stayed resolutely open. Jon looked at Rose and cleared his throat. "I think she wants to hear it from you, Rose. I did influence her to accept your input."
"How did you do that?" Rose frowned.
"When I wrapped your hair around her before I planted her. She's going to bond with you, she's already preparing herself to please you."
Rose smiled with delight. Her own TARDIS! She walked up next to Jon and joined his hand with her own and crooned, "Yes, sweetheart, he's right. Take care of yourself first right now, there's plenty of time for that later, and thank you!"
Silently the coral closed up. Rose planted a kiss on it, and she swore she felt a sigh of happiness inside her head. She looked at Jon and his face was split with a huge grin. "You felt that, too?" Rose asked.
"Oh yes!"
"So what was it you were going to tell me?"
Jon led her over to their little ledge and explained about the effects of the atmosphere in the cavern on the growing coral and the Time Lords.
"You git!" she exclaimed, and smacked him – but gently – on the face. "You could've told me before I came in here with Jack!"
Jon teased her, "Oh c'mon, I've always known you fancied Jack. Admit it!"
Rose retorted, "I've always fancied Jack? Well yeah, I have, but what about you? I know for a fact that Donna was very smitten by him, and you're half Donna, don't tell me you don't want him, too!"
"Gee, all this arguing about me might turn my head!" They both turned and blushed as they saw Jack approaching them. He looked appreciably at the growing coral. "Wow," was all he said as he gestured toward it.
"Yeah, wow." Jon echoed. "It's doing really well, I wonder if it being the only coral growing here is enhancing its growth? No competition to speak of, so it's just going to town with all the available resources."
"So, where is Isana?" Rose asked.
"She's hanging out with Willem and the children, trrying to get her bearings. I figured I'd leave her alone for a bit, no point in hanging all over her. Maybe her friends will elicit stronger memories than I've been able to."
"You could bring her in here, I'm told this cave has a 'certain effect' on people of Gallifreyan ancestry," Rose snickered.
"Nope." Jack said firmly. "If she wants me, I want to know it's me she wants, not a chamber full of pheromones."
Rose walked over and hugged Jack comfortingly. "I know," she said. "It was just a thought."
"Jack," Jon began, "I might require some parts from your vortex manipulator to help the TARDIS develop faster."
Jack looked like Jon had just hit him. "My vortex manipulator?" he squeaked, "Why don't you just ask me to saw off a leg or something?"
Without missing a beat, Jon responded, "Well, because a leg really wouldn't help the TARDIS, and besides you'd look funny hopping around like that, you'd just be all – I dunno – 'hoppy', and you really need to be able to run properly if you hang around with me..."
"What parts do you need?" Jack interrupted impatiently.
"Let's talk about that later," Jon suggested as Rose not-too-discreetly walked behind him and tweaked his bum.
Jack took the hint and turned to leave. "We're not finished with this conversation, though," he warned Jon over his shoulder.
"Mmmfph..." was all Jon said as he kissed Rose.